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Premier League: Gus Poyet left disappointed after late goal gives Tottenham 2-1 win over Sunderland

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Sunderland boss Gus Poyet said there was no doubt his side could take positives from the defeat to Tottenham

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet felt his side deserved something after losing 2-1 at Tottenham as Christian Eriksen scored the winner two minutes from time at White Hart Lane.

After conceding a deflected Jan Vertonghen goal after two minutes in Saturday's Premier League encounter, the Black Cats levelled in the 31st minute from a Seb Larsson free-kick before Eriksen’s winning effort gave the hosts all three points.

Former Spurs player Poyet said: "It’s difficult. I’m disappointed because I thought we were good enough to get something from the game. If we’re talking about chances, the penalty that was not given, then I think we deserved a bit better.

"I think we need to learn - it’s a new way of playing. We've changed the system and it was a good try. There are things that we need to do every day. When you do the right things all the time, you have a great chance to win games. And today we only lost it because of a couple of incidents."

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The defeat leaves the Uruguayan's team in 16th place in the table and just one point above the relegation zone following a run that has seen them lose four of their last six league games.

Poyet added: "We can take positives from today. I don’t think we created a better chance than Steven Fletcher’s in the first half.

"We had shots, we had rebounds, and Hugo Lloris made a great save at the end from Danny Graham. We did quite well considering it was a completely new shape."

While full of praise for debutant Jermain Defoe,  Poyet was not too happy with referee Chris Foy after he failed to award a penalty in the first half.

Sunderland’s new striker tangled with Jan Vertonghen in the box and Poyet felt the officials got the decision wrong.

He added: "I don’t know [why it isn’t a yellow for simulation, if it isn’t a penalty]. I’m sure I will be wrong anyway because they - the officials - will only find a way to say what they want to say.

"Defoe started very well and I think his positioning was unlucky, my analyst told me he was offside by a hand.

"I have to congratulate the linesman because if you give an offside and you are spot on, when the other way - as Spurs attacked - there were a couple of incidents that you think would be clearer."